论英国首相布莱尔出任欧盟轮值主席之表现.doc

Tony Blairs performance as EU president論英國首相布萊爾出任歐盟輪值主席之表現2006-02-27 / TAIWAN NEWS / Edited by Tina Li/Translated by Steven Marsh編輯李美儀/英文翻譯馬強 Chang Yang-pei University of Cambridge doctorate holder; Member of the Board of Directors of the European Union Study Association Taiwan (EUSA) 張洋培 （英國劍橋大學博士 歐洲聯盟研究協會監事）British Prime Minister Tony Blair served a term as the revolving EU president during the second half of 2005. We could safely say he survived a disaster. The fact that he got out, preserved his position as prime minister and kept the European Union from falling apart was no easy task. 英國首相布萊爾於二五年之下半年，出任歐盟輪值主席。他的表現，用四個字可以形容：劫後餘生。他能全身而退，保住首相大位，並維繫住歐盟於不墜，可真不簡單。 Member nations take turns serving the EU presidency every six months, adopting a “troika” policy that alternates between large and smaller member states in order to protect the rights of the smaller ones while maintaining the interests of larger ones. 歐盟輪值主席，素來每六個月更換一次，採取的是大國小國輪流承擔大任的三頭馬車政策，以保護小國權利，並維護大國利益。 Unfortunately when Blair took over the presidency on last July 1, France and the Netherlands had just vetoed the EU draft constitution. The twenty-five member nations of the EU then degenerated into chaos and mutual accusation. Even more unfortunate were the terror attacks on the London underground in the beginning of July right after Blair took over the presidency. It was the most horrific attack on a mass transit system in Europe since the Madrid bombings in 2004. 不巧的是，輪到布萊爾於七月一日出任輪值主席之時，法國及荷蘭正好否決歐盟憲法草案。歐盟二十五國一時陷入分崩離析，交相指責的窘境。更不幸的是，七月上旬，英國倫敦地鐵遭到恐怖攻擊，這是繼西班牙火車爆炸案後，最嚴重的一次事件，全歐震盪，人心不安。 When the news reached Taiwan, British Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan Director Derek Marsh was holding a cocktail party at a Taipei hotel to celebrate the 2005 EU presidency. The cocktail party soon became a press conference for the London bombings, as many local reporters surrounded Marsh to get his assessment of the situation. He handled the questions well, saying that the situation in London was under control, emphasizing that Britain remained resolved to handle its EU presidency responsibilities. I personally witnessed the cool demeanor and wisdom of a British diplomat that day. 消息傳到臺灣的時候，英國駐台辦事處主任馬德睿，正好在台北遠企大飯店三十八樓的馬可波羅廳，舉行二五歐盟輪值主席接待酒會。酒會頓時成了恐怖攻擊記者會，許多我國記者圍著他問現況。所幸馬德睿處置得體，他宣布酒會開始後，氣氛相當平和，而且他強調英國承擔輪值主席重任的決心。當時筆者忝列受邀賓客行列，親眼目睹英國外交官的冷靜與智慧。 In the face of change, Britain chose to remain calm and reflective. Britain announced the temporary suspension of discussions on a new EU constitution and would not rush into pushing for more referendums. Blair began to patch things back together at the end of June, saying it was an opportunity to bravely face challenges and that he would allow other member states to see that Britain cared about the development of the EU. He said Britain would take responsibility in creating a more effective Europe. He promised a free market economic system and social justice for the EU instead of competition among member states, adding that the affluent older members would extend a hand in assisting the newer EU members. Blair stressed the resolve Britain and other EU member states had for more cooperation, bringing up the issue of the EU budget draft as an example. Blair reflected that the budget rebate the EU was offering Britain might be inappropriate and that EU members in Eastern Europe may well be unhappy with the motion. 面對鉅大變局，英國採取的確實是冷靜反省的態度。英國於先前宣布暫停討論歐盟新憲法，不會急急訴諸公投。布萊爾於六月下旬便動手收拾殘局，他表示，這是勇於任事的機會，他會讓其他會員看到英國關心歐盟發展，有責任、有擔當，他要創造一個具備實際效能的歐洲。在這個歐洲之中，自由化的市場經濟，係社會正義伙伴，而不是競爭者，富裕的老歐洲國家會伸出援手，協助新加盟的新歐洲國家。他強調英國與其他會員國合作的決心，因此將好好討論歐盟預算案，並檢討歐盟給英國的鉅額預算回扣，是否已不合時宜，是否已招致東歐會員國之不滿。 Britain Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown was a bit more candid. He believed the EU should face reality and allow member states to develop their own national values, forgoing the federalist ideal of the past. This sort of statement was a challenge to the EU new constitution draft. Additionally, Brown stood for reforming the EU Common Agricultural Agreement, directing criticism at France and President Jacques Chirac for receiving what he saw as excessive agricultural subsidies. 然而，英國財政大臣布朗則較直接坦率。他主張歐盟應面對現實，應該允許會員國發展民族價值觀，應放棄過時的聯邦主義理想。他的這項說詞，實際上已挑戰了新憲法草案。此外，他主張改革共同農業政策，而把矛頭對準領取鉅額農業補貼的法國，尤其是法國總統席哈克。 When Britain took over the presidency on July 1, Blair announced that the EU should search for a social model. Blair meant that as Britain already a new labor party, then Europe should have a new model society. He was willing to push Britain social welfare and justice models within Europe. 七月一日，英國接下輪值主席，布萊爾宣布應為歐盟找尋社會模範。他的意思是說，英國既然已有新工黨，那麼歐洲也應該有新的模範社會。他願意將英國的社會福利及正義政策，推向歐洲。 British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw has stressed in the past that the EU should avoid interfering in the national affairs of member states. 外務大臣傑克史卓另外強調，歐盟應該避免干涉會員國事務。 The statements by Brown and Straw express Britains basic attitude toward the EU, on one side enthusiastically participating in EU affairs while on the other safeguarding the interest of their nation. With this sort of policy direction, Blair was attacked from all sides, domestic and foreign, after taking over the EU presidency, not to mention by the differing viewpoints from the British Parliament. 布朗與史卓兩人的說法，充分顯示英國對歐盟的基本態度：一邊熱心參加歐盟事務，一邊保護英國利益。在這樣子的施政方針之下，布萊爾這一任的輪值主席，難免要腹背受敵，內外夾攻。何況，英國國會尚有不同意見。 After the terrorist attacks on the London underground, British police officers shot and killed a Brazilian traveler they mistook as an Arab terrorist. Police shot him at close distance in a crowded underground station, causing an uproar around Europe. 果然，布萊爾前路維艱。在反恐議題上，英國受到直接攻擊，而且還誤將巴西旅英人士，當成阿拉伯恐怖份子，在地鐵站的人潮面前，近距離格殺。此一事件，鬧得全歐嘩然。 Blair intended to reform the EU budget, but Brown insisted that if France did not support farm subsidy reforms, then Britain should not feel obligated to make any concessions on the budget rebate. New EU member nations in Eastern Europe were anxiously awaiting economic aid, but ended up disappointed over the power struggle between Britain and France and their reluctance to offer any sort of generous assistance. 在歐盟預算上，布萊爾雖有改革之心，但財政大臣布朗堅持，法國如不支持農業補貼的改革，則英國不必在預算回扣上讓步。東歐新會員國正引頸期待歐盟的經濟支援，可惜卻看到英法兩國各自為權利爭辯，不願意大方援助新歐洲國家。 Falling European economic growth and industrial development has helped Asian nations like China and South Korea gain the upper hand in trade with the EU. The high unemployment rate in Germany has contributed to social instability there, and was a root cause of former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeders loss in general elections to new Chancellor Angela Merkel. In France, a night of riots by North African immigrants left Paris and the southern parts of the nation under martial law and put Premier Chirac in a precarious situation. If economic growth rates were better, it would be easier to quell this social upheaval. 在經濟成長以及工商業發展方向，歐洲成長率低落，眼看著中國及南韓高度成長，在歐洲競逐貿易之利。德國失業率高漲，社會基礎鬆動。德國總理施若德居然在大選中，馬失前蹄，改由梅克爾出任總理。法國也爆發了北非移民之夜間暴動，巴黎及南部宣布戒嚴，席哈克地位，幾乎不保。假如經濟成長率夠高，這些社會不安景況，通常較容易以財務手段壓抑，不會鬧成這種局面。 By the beginning of December last year when the EU was about to hold its semi-annual summit meeting, Britain had yet to determine the exact content of the budget with other member nations, nor was there any consensus on CAP reforms or the British budget rebate. Many people both inside and outside of Britain felt that Blair had been prime minister too long and that Brown controlled too many aspects of both domestic and foreign affairs, which has led to a big drop in support for Blair. 到了十二月初，歐盟半年度高峰會即將展開，英國卻無法與其他會員國確定預算案內容，或在CAP改革上及英國回扣案上，取得任何共識。英國內外交相指責，認為布萊爾在位太久，財務大臣布朗過度操控內外事務。布萊爾的支持率大幅下降。 In mid-December, the World Trade Organization held a meeting in Hong Kong against the backdrop of anti-globalization protests outside. Taiwanese activists were among those arrested during the incident. Inside the meeting, Brazil and India proposed a motion to abolish subsidy policies, with the EU British representative Peter Mandelson agreeing to eliminate them by 2013. Mandelson is close to Blair and this concession not only satisfied the demands of developing nations such as Brazil and India, but also indirectly challenged Frances subsidy policies. 十二月中間，世界貿易組織（WTO）在香港開會，各國反全球化人士雲集會場外圍抗議。臺灣也有人去，而且還鬧了事，遭到逮捕。這時，巴西與印度提議各國廢除補貼政策，歐盟的英籍代表曼德遜，同意在2013年取消補貼。曼德遜是布萊爾近臣，他的這一席決定滿足了巴西及印度等發展中國家的要求，也間接給法國當頭一棒。 The European Parliament is also expanding its powers. The new EU member states in Eastern Europe have not been particularly satisfied with the rate of aid received, and have reminded the old guard not to neglect the new kids on the block. 在歐盟內部，歐洲議會也正在擴權。尤其是新加入歐盟的中東歐國家，他們在經濟援助上得不到太多滿足感，於是藉問政提醒西歐老大哥，多多關心小老弟。 The complexity of the current state of affairs made the British term as EU president more arduous than in past years. The fact that Blair is still there and able to hold the summit was the result of sheer luck. Now that discussions on a new EU constitution have been temporarily shelved, many are becoming increasingly vigilant concerning the rise of Eastern Europe. The new members added to the EU have given it a new youthful vitality. Unfortunately, there is also a youthful rebelliousness at play, which has led to many problems. The EU leaders are thus left with challenges as well as torment. 交雜混合之下，英國這一屆輪值主席大任，確實比往年辛苦。布萊爾未被推下臺，順利辦高峰會，已是萬幸。走到此處，歐盟在停止討論新憲法之後，警覺東歐國家的崛起。歐盟已增添了新成員，歐盟已成長為一個健康的青少年。可惜，正處在青少年的反抗期中，因此問題特別多，負責引領這群青少年的領袖，要飽受挑戰與折磨。 Another interpretation of the rejection of the EU constitution revolves around suspicions by many that the rate of expansion is proceeding too quickly. There have already been discussions by the old guard about how core members should lead the EU out of its predicament. 否決新憲法的另一層涵意，是在質疑廣化速度太快，深化不及。老歐洲的會員國，已在討論如何由核心國家帶頭，走出困境。 The fact that Britain was able to finish its six-month tenure at the head of the EU in face of this predicament was no easy task. 英國在這種困境中，能順利走完六個月，真是不簡單。 On January 2, 2006, the BBC announced the results of a survey that found most British felt European Commission President Jose Barroso wields the most power in Britain. The second most powerful person was considered to be media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, with the parliament coming in third and the British people themselves fourth. Tony Blair come in seventh with only se